Women's experiences accessing mental health care in Australia after sexual violence in adulthood

Isaac, Sandra

Women's experiences accessing mental health care in Australia after sexual violence in adulthood Sandra Isaac, Elizabeth McLindon, Kelsey Hegarty and Laura Tarzia - Sage, 2024 - Violence Against Women .

Violence Against Women, 2024, 30(12-13), 3140-3162

In Australia, at least one in every five women has experienced sexual violence since age 15. Research consistently links sexual violence with poor mental health, persisting long after the crisis period. Trauma-informed mental health support is therefore critical. This article draws on interviews with 29 women who had experienced sexual violence to understand their experiences accessing mental health services in Australia. Our findings suggest that, constrained by a biomedical model of care, mental health practitioners’ understanding of trauma generally, and sexual violence particularly, may be lacking. Further, women struggle to navigate a “maze” of services. (Authors' abstract). Record #8183


ABUSED WOMEN
HELP SEEKING
MENTAL HEALTH
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
SUPPORT SERVICES
TRAUMA
VICTIM/SURVIVORS' VOICES
VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE


INTERNATIONAL
AUSTRALIA